As summer comes to a close and everyone starts gearing up for the fall season, there's a subtle excitement brewing in the air. If you are like most people, then you know that feeling is the anticipation for a fun-filled Halloween; and part of what makes this time of year so special. For travelers looking for their horror holiday fix, the good news is that there is a plethora of destinations that take Halloween to the next level and can accommodate you all month long. In fact, here are ten incredible US small towns to spend Halloween in this spooky season.
10 Sleepy Hollow, New York
This small town, only 30 miles from Manhattan, needs no introduction. Thanks to the legend of Sleepy Hollow, this sleepy little town is a popular Halloween destination. With its iconic unofficial mascot, the Headless Horseman, leading the charge, Sleepy Hollow definitely embraces the holiday spirit. Visitors and Halloween lovers can check out the Van Cortlandt Manor for its spooky Great Jack-o-Lantern Blaze or catch a dramatic performance of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." But that's not all; with guided cemetery tours, haunted hayrides, pub crawls, and spooky street fairs, Sleepy Hollow is a real treat.
9 Salem, Massachusetts
Yet another iconic Halloween town that definitely deserves a visit is Salem. With the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692, the spooky vibe here is real. While there, travelers can stop by the Salem Witch Museum and enjoy an abundance of haunted happenings all around this city. Notable activities that are sure to give a fright include spooky nighttime walking tours, a tour of The Witch House, the Festival of the Dead, psychic readings, haunted houses, talks with the dead, and more. As a bonus, there are also ample Halloween costume parties, fireworks, and parades held all in the month of October.
8 New Orleans, Louisiana
For magic and Voodoo enthusiasts, a trip to New Orleans is an absolute must. Known as one of the US's most historic and haunted cities, this destination truly embraces the spirit of Halloween. So not only can visitors get their spooky fix here, but they can also enjoy Big Easy's overall love of costumes, music, and roaring nightlife. Plus, there are also seasonal festivities that are fun for the whole family, like the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, Crawloween, ghost/cemetery tours, New Orleans Vampire Ball, Boo at the Zoo, and so much more.
7 Estes Park, Colorado
At first glance, this quiet mountainside village might not seem too spooky. But if you know your film and literature, then you know that Estes Park is home to the historic Stanley Hotel. Now part of the classic horror genre, this imposing mountain lodge is famous thanks to Stephen King and Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Many visitors may be shocked to learn that this hotel is reportedly haunted and has a variety of Halloween-centric events in October. So if "all work and no play has made you a dull boy," come check out this spooky destination and stay for the Shining Ball, complete with murder mystery dinner. In town, visitors can also enjoy some trick-or-treating on Main Street, the Autumn Gold Festival, and the Pumpkins and Pilsner Festival.
6 Louisville, Kentucky
Home to Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Louisville is a spine-tingly town to visit this October. Known as one of the most haunted places on earth, The Waverly Hill Sanatorium has a dark past, making its yearly transformation into a haunted house during the Halloween season even more frightening—so enter if you dare. For less frightful attractions, Louisville also has the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, ghost tours of Old Louisville, Halloween parades, Danger Run, and the World's Largest Halloween Party at the Louisville Zoo that are fun for the whole family.
5 Savannah, Georgia
Yet another haunted southern city travelers should explore this fall is Savannah. Not only are there a plethora of Halloween-themed things to do here, but there is also the Colonial Park Cemetery, which is the most haunted spot in town, according to the locals. Visitors looking for that special spook factor can tour this cemetery and see for themselves just what goes on here under cover of darkness. There are also a few must-see haunted houses in Savannah, such as the historic Sorrel-Weed House, the notorious Mercer-Williams House, and the private residence at 432 Abercorn Street—all of which promise a hair-raising good time.
4 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Speaking of haunted houses and attractions, the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia is one of America's largest, according to Forbes magazine. A former prison that now lies in semi-ruin, Eastern State Penn is a sight to behold. With its overall ominous vibes, crumbling cellblocks, and huge castle-like demeanor, the spook factor isn't hard to find here. This historical landmark offers visitors an interactive horror experience known as the "Terror Behind the Walls." There are also several other hauntingly good attractions at the prison. Besides this main scare-fest, Philly boasts other thrilling Halloween events, including The Bates Motel, The Valley Of Fear Haunted Hayride, Screaming Mountain, Fright Factory, and ongoing ghost tours.
3 Adams, Tennessee
For travelers searching for some haunted history and lore, they needn't look any further than Adams, Tennessee. If you aren't familiar with the Legend of the Bell Witch, now's the time to learn about this chilling American haunting that occurred between 1817 and 1820. This real-life urban legend is taught in schools and has definitely garnered public interest. The Bell Witch Cave is the rumored site of said hauntings and is open to the public. So take a tour of the infamous cave (where disembodied voices have been heard), and don't forget to check out the Bell family cabin—just be prepared for that creepy sensation that you are being watched. If you live to tell the tale, a wealth of other haunted locations and attractions nearby are sure to tickle your fancy.
2 San Jose, California
San Jose is a beautiful town in California known for a few things, one of them being the infamous Winchester Mystery House. One of the best places to catch some seriously spooky vibes is none other than this oddity and mansion once owned by Sarah Winchester. An American horror story brought to life, Sarah believed in order to ward off evil spirits, she had to continuously build her home for 38 years. Today, visitors can marvel at staircases that lead nowhere, rooms within rooms, and more inexplicable architecture. Around Halloween, there are special nighttime flashlight tours of this mystery house that will scare just about anybody. The San Jose area also has an abundance of Halloween events to check out if this haunted mansion is too spooky for you.
1 Bangor, Maine
Another small town to stop by for some chills and thrills is Bangor, Maine. Thanks to Stephen King and friends yet again, a once tiny place on the map has now turned into a spooky good time. Bangor was the real-life town used as the backdrop for Stephen King's "It," though in the book/films, this town was named Derry. A bonus here is that Stephen King also calls Bangor home, so if you ever wanted to see the home of the man who penned all your childhood nightmares, now's your chance. Check out King's macabre gated mansion, then pop over to Mount Hope Cemetery to see another of King's muses that inspired Pet Sematary. Finally, for spooky season lovers who still want more, Bangor offers a variety of other Halloween/fall activities as well.